Mortar trowel

ABSTRACT

A trowel is disclosed characterized by the novel features of elongated blade of uniform width from end to end, a curved blade bottom, an offset handle and other features adapted to enable the operator to conveniently lay down a long, thin bead of mortar with minimum wrist movement.

United States Patent Inventor William V. Turner 2800 Stanwix Lane, Richmond, Va. 23234 Appl. No. 824,401

Filed May 14, 1969 Patented Sept. 28, 197i MORTAR TROWEL 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 294/35, 394/55, 306/44 Int. Cl E04g 21/20 Field of Search ...294/49, 3.5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,501 1 1/1952 Tallant 294/55 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,477 9/1959 Great Britain 294/55 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry AtlorneyG. William King ABSTRACT: A trowel is disclosed characterized by the novel features of elongated blade of uniform width from end to end, a curved blade bottom, an offset handle and other features adapted to enable the operator to conveniently lay down a long, thin bead of mortar with minimum wrist movement.

PATENTED SEPEBIBYI BBOBBAA FIG. I

INVIzN'I'UR.

W l/. Turner ATTORNEY MORTAR TROWEL This invention relates to a novel trowel useful in laying mortar, particularly mortar on long, thin concrete cinder or solite, hollow core blocks which are now very popular. Much of the present-day masonwork is with these hollow core blocks, or with a thin, brick veneer on frame buildings. In each of these applications it is necessary to produce a head or layer of mortar on a narrow brick or block surface. Various trowels have been previously known but none especially adapted for use with thin, 3-6-ineh-thick blocks, usually -18 inches long. The present invention is especially intended to enable one to apply a long, thin, uniform bead of mortar over the entire length of such a block, even if the worker is a relative novice.

Thus the principal object of this invention is to provide a novel trowel apparatus having a long blade of uniform width, and being adapted to pick up and deliver a metered amount of mortar, and further being provided with an offset handle for reducing the hand movement required in manipulating the trowel.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the best mode of carrying out the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the novel trowel of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view with parts broken away of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the trowel; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view.

Referring now to the drawing, the preferred trowel of this invention has an elongated blade of uniform width, approximately the length of the conventional block mentioned above. The blade is curved slightly at the bottom as shown in FIG. 3, preferably to the extent defined by a 3-6-inch-radius curve. The blade being long and curved in the manner shown easily obtains mortar from the mixing box and with slight manipulation takes up only the proper amount of mortar for a thin bead along the entire length of a long block in a single application.

This is especially desirable for the untrained novice or beginner since in operation the trowel is filled to capacity defined by the blade length, width and curvature, placed along the work face and the contents deposited in a bead thereon.

The curvature of the blade also increases its strength and re sistance to bending. It is therefore possible to make the blade of this invention of relatively lightweight material such as stainless steel, aluminum, or magnesium or alloys containing the same.

A handle 3 of conventional construction is provided. However, the handle is offset above and to one side of blade I by means of connecting support 5. Support 5 is preferably a solid rod rigidly attached at the end of blade I to triangular base plate 7. The connecting rod 5 is approximately 3% inches long from blade 1 to the point it turns back into the handle, i.e., of sufficient length to offset the centerline of the handle approximately 1% to 3 inches from the centerline of the blade. The offset should be approximately 3045 from the vertical axis and should preferably be sufficient to permit the operators hand to grasp the handle and apply the bead of mortar to a brick or block by laying the trowel blade edge along the upper side of the block, and by further tilting the blade by rotation about the long blade edge contacting the block to such an extent that the contents of the blade are deposited, yet because of the offset handle, the operators hand does not need to contact the wall in back of the block (especially in the case of veneer laying). This facilitates laying the mortar by eliminat' ing part of the wrist movement required with conventional trowels, and insures a more uniform and neater appearing job.

Base plate 7, in addition to providing a support connection for support rod 5, also assists in containing the semiliquid mortar on the blade by permitting it to be tilted somewhat upwardly, thereby containing mortar against the back base plate and within the curved bottom elongated blade.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, to be embraced therein.

Iclaim:

ii. A mortar trowel device having a straight, elongated blade of substantially uniform width of approximately 3 to 6 inches and a tapered end portion, said blade in cross section thru its width being a segment of a circle, a handle for manipulating said trowel, and means at the other end of said blade adapted to rigidly connect said blade and said handle, said connecting means extending at angle of 3045 from a plane tangent to the centerpoint of the diameter of said] blade at the longitudinal eenterline of said blade and being of sufficient length to support said handle in a position substantially parallel to said blade, whereby a plane passing through the centerline of said handle perpendicular to said first mentioned plane would be outside the dimensions of said blade. 

1. A mortar trowel device having a straight, elongated blade of substantially uniform width of approximately 3 to 6 inches and a tapered end portion, said blade in cross section thru its width being a segment of a circle, a handle for manipulating said trowel, and means at the other end of said blade adapted to rigidly connect said blade and said handle, said connecting means extending at angle of 30*-45* from a plane tangent to the centerpoint of the diameter of said blade at the longitudinal centerline of said blade and being of sufficient length to support said handle in a position substantially parallel to said blade, whereby a plane passing through the centerline of said handle perpendicular to said first mentioned plane would be outside the dimensions of said blade. 